James Lemuel Logan

My Great Grandfather

When James Lemuel Logan was born on September 6, 1860, in Sparta, Wisconsin, his father, Silas, was 27 and his mother, Sarah, was 18. He married Caroline Stitt on December 22, 1882, in Armstrong, Pennsylvania. They had six children in 17 years. He died on April 10, 1952, in Pontiac, Michigan, at the age of 91.

James Lemuel Logan used to tell his granddaughter, Carrie Elva Logan Porter Reade, about crossing the prairie in a covered wagon.

The following is from the History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Volume 2 By John Newton Boucher :

“JAMES L. LOGAN. Silas Logan, father of James L. Logan, of Vandergrift, born about 1825, in Corry, Erie county, Pennsylvania, and as a young man went to Wisconsin, then situated on the frontier. He settled among the Indians, but after a shore time returned to Pennsylvania, having made both the outward and homeward trips by wagon. On his return he settled in Titusville, where he engaged in the oil business, later removing to Blairsville, where he did some oil prospecting. Subsequently he took up his abode in Greensburg, and some time in the eighties went to Detroit, where he has since resided on a farm in the suburbs. Mr. Logan married Elizabeth Rowan, and the following are their children: James L., see forward: Henry, head bookkeeper for the American Harrow Company, of Detroit: Elsie, and Lena, both at home.
James L. Logan, son of Silas and Elizabeth (Rowan) Logan was born September 6, 1860, in Sparta, Monroe county, Wisconsin, and received a common school education. About his eighteenth year he secured a position as a brakeman of the Pennsylvania railroad, but not finding the associations congenial resigned at the end of a few months. He then went to Blairsville, where for about a year he was employed as a teamster, afterward obtaining a position as locomotive fireman on the Pennsylvania railroad. About two years and nine months later he was promoted to the position of engineer, which he held for some eight years. At the end of that time he resigned and for the three years following was variously employed. In 1898 he moved to Vandergrift, where he became locomotive engineer for the Apollo Iron and Steel Company, remaining in this position about two years and a half. He then accepted a position with the Chilled Roll Foundry Company of Apollo, and on the removal of the foundry to Vandergrift was retained, being transferred to that place. He continued, however, to live in Apollo, where he still resides (as of the date of the article).

He belongs to Mineral Point Lodge, No. 615, I. O. O. F.; Apollo Commandery, No. 365, Knights of Malta; and Allegheny Division, No. 108, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He is an Independent in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mr. Logan married, Dec. 22, 1882, Caroline Stitt, of Blairsville:

Of their six children four survive, all of them being at home; Catherine, William, Orville, and Glenn.” (as of the article)
~ Page 605

(1900) ~ US Federal Census – ED 1, Apollo borough, Armstrong Co, PA – James Logan, age 40, born Sep. 1860 in PA. Both his parents born in PA. Male, White, Married. Spouse: Caroline Logan, age 39, born Nov. 1861 in PA. Both her parents born in PA. Children at home: Dau. – Kate E. Logan, age 14, born June 1886 in PA; Son – Wm. S. Logan, age 10, born June 1890 in PA; Son – Orville R. Logan, age 4, born Feb. 1896 in PA; Son – Glenn H. Logan, age 1, born October 1899 in PA. 6 children; 4 living.(1910) ~ US Federal Census – Apollo, Armstrong Co, PA – James L. Logan, age 49, born in Wisconsin. His father born in PA, Mother born in Wisconsin. Spouse: Caroline Logan, age 48, born in PA. Children: William S. Logan, age 20; Orville R. Logan, age 14; Glenn H. Logan, age 10, all born in PA. James was a helper in a rolling mill.
James was called Lemuel Logan in 1870 and James L Logan in 1880 and thereafter. His parents were in Lafayette, Monroe Co Wisconsin when the 1860 census was taken and he was likely born there. By 1870 they were in Oil Creek, Crawford Co, Pennsylvania and in 1880 they resided in Hempfield, Westmoreland Co, Pennsylvania and James worked for the railroad.

Works In Progress

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